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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. bound — obliged
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. track — a path
  7. saw — the tool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. vault — a safe
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. saw — the tool
  12. toast — bread
  13. track — a song
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bound — tied together
  16. can — a tin
  17. content — the amount
  18. content — happy
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. track — to keep track
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. key — the most important part
  23. can — a tin
  24. bound — certain

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com